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mettlesome

adjective

ˈme-tᵊl-səm How to pronounce mettlesome (audio)
Definition of mettlesomenext
1
as in energetic
having much high-spirited energy and movement the mettlesome opening dance number got the audience all jazzed up

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in spirited
marked by a lively display of strong feeling a mettlesome debate on the teaching of evolution in the schools

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mettlesome He may have been provoked into battle by the ruler of Cebu, who was using Magellan’s troops to rid himself of a mettlesome chieftain known to raid the trade ships that navigated the waters in and around the islands. — Tim Carman, Washington Post, 14 Nov. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mettlesome
  1. energetic
  2. spirited
  3. animated
  4. fiery
  5. lively
  6. spunky
  7. animate
  8. brisk
Adjective
  • The smart money was on the colorful, energetic Sinclair with a ready answer and the catchy acronym.
    — Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2026
  • But the last two decades have been filled with challenges for McClatchy, whose chain of newspapers across the Central Valley and beyond was once known for its energetic journalism and independent streak.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of energetic
Adjective
  • The other ingredients, a nonalcoholic vermouth and a nonalcoholic spirit alternative, cost just as much as their spirited counterparts.
    — Esther Tseng, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 Sep. 2026
  • That sign sparked a spirited debate over branding in the city’s historic district.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of spirited
Adjective
  • But that’s all to the good for this rare example of original animated storytelling in a sea of IP and sequels.
    — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Both players are intense and animated competitors, and their fan bases' are fiercely loyal.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of animated
Adjective
  • The September full moon, commonly known as the harvest moon, is almost here, bringing a fiery burst of energy as the fall season gets underway.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The fiery crash in the 6500 block of Nova Drive east of College Avenue involved a utility pole and caused a power outage in the area.
    — Miami Herald staff, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of fiery
Adjective
  • Why, those teeming crowds just outside the shows are their own lively scene, filled with exciting, unexpected, and downright inspired takes on what’s happening in fashion.
    — Phil Oh, Vogue, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Echo Theater Company’s ambitious production brings lively design and a volatile cast to the stage, but an unfocused script and feverish direction overwhelm the story.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of lively
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, Susan was a spunky fan favorite on the inaugural Golden Bachelor season.
    — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The mop-haired actor plays Joey, a spunky boy onboard who bonds with Maddie over having absent parents in the military.
    — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of spunky
Adjective
  • To imagine the natural world not as a passive resource but as an animate collaborator would be to reorder more than aesthetic categories, demanding another relation to our environment.
    — Tara Anne Dalbow, ARTnews.com, 29 May 2026
  • Zugunruhe is the itinerant desire of any animate being to keep moving and growing.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 6 May 2026
Definition of animate
Adjective
  • Roughly 30 minutes a day of brisk walking, light jogging, swimming or cycling supports the hormone’s natural rhythm when the effort feels energising rather than exhausting.
    — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Cooler temps and far less humidity than in summer make fall the ideal time to visit, and if the evenings get a bit brisk, there’s always a glass of bourbon to take the chill away.
    — Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2026
Definition of brisk

Browse Nearby Words

mettle
mettlesome
mew
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Cite this Entry

“Mettlesome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mettlesome. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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